BOB across Europe

We love our BOB stroller. It was like another family member when we lived in Europe. Wherever we went, BOB went too. On planes, trains and automobiles! But now Connor is becoming such a big girl. She walks everywhere - BOB only makes the occasional visit.As an ode to BOB Kirk made this mosaic. BOB went with us to 35 European countries. Think that is some kind of record? He definitely shows the wear and tear from that many airplane trips. He is like our Velveteen Rabbit. The bumps and bruises reflect the REALness and love.

We did send the mosaic file to BOB thinking they might include it in their blog advertising. But never heard back. Oh well.

It makes a great talking piece.
And a terrific reminder of all we were able to see and do - thanks to BOB!

Blake, Gum and Robert E. Lee

The best part of good travel isn't necessarily the good destinations - but mostly the good company. We were delighted to see good friends during our beach weekend.

We visited with Blake at St. Simon's Island. Blake and Connor were neighbors born a few days apart, so they are special buddies back from our maternity leave days. Usually fellow birth month neighbor, Palmer, rounds out the trio. But unfortunately her family couldn't make this trip.These two played hard on the beach, running around all over. The St. Simons Beach was beautiful. It was a super day to catch up and play - and oddly the beach was uncrowded. Score, for us. We even found a sand dollar. As you can see, swimming with the bow on didn't work out too well!Blake wasn't our only friend we got to see Labor Day weekend. We got to stay with Freda (aka"Gum") and her dog, Robert E. Lee. Aka "Robert" or as Connor calls him, "Rah-Rah!"Gum's house was a perfect haven at the beach. Connor was pretty cute on her air mattress tucked into the dormer window.
Connor and Rah-Rah share a unique friendship. Between the two of them they provided quite the entertainment. Here they are sharing a secret conversation - dog to daughter.
Poor Rah-Rah was poked, prodded, and dressed-up all weekend. He surely breathed a sigh of relief when we pulled away.Connor even had her own Rah-Rah in hand! Click here for full album photos of Sea Island!

Cookies and Ice Cream - Sea Island Sugar High

The Cloister has an entire weekly program of activities available. What a treat to anticipate what might be on tap when visiting! This time the much-hyped "Cookie Cutter Class" was at the Kid's Club. We beelined it over ready to cut away. The Cloister Camp Junior Staff were patient and loving. They had the dough ready and helped Connor roll it out. She was very determined...

With all the goodies around though there was a significant amount of tasting along with the cookie making.



While the cookies baked the staff had the kids decorate bags to take them home in and led games like Simon Says. Below is "Simon Says Jump on One Foot!"
I think it pretty funny that in these photos Connor is the only one still in her Chef's Hat!

And while the sugar high was on we of course had to indulge at the ice cream parlor.
StrawBABY was the flavor of choice!
Connor really wanted to hold the cone -
- but when Kirk insisted on carrying the cone, there were sugar high tears...
And a determined sense of satisfaction when she finally got it back.

Sea Island Fun

We had the good fortune of spending last weekend at Sea Island. With Freda living there we had a cozy, comfie place to stay and this...a block away! Connor was there all of 2 minutes before she was in Freda's pool and darting off to the beach.
Our girl is a beach girl! She loves the waves, wind, surf and sand.
Sea Island is a very special place. The homes are jaw-dropping-ly beautiful. I feel like an outsider looking in when we are there. It is pretty fun tiptoeing around hoping the billionaires all around can't see right through you. Hob-nobbing with the elite has its perks! Sea Island's Cloister has fallen on tough financial times - recently declaring bankruptcy - but you would never know it as a guest. The pools were a curvy labryinth of fun. The shuffleboard court open for business and oh, oh, oh me the playground!We spent many happy hours at the pool. It is a perfect place for kids with a wade-in shallow end and lots of steps. Connor showed off her swimming strokes. We didn't want to leave at naptime so packed a nightgown and pink muh-muh for an afternoon respite right by the pool. Mission accomplished...The foliage and landscaping at the Cloister kept us ooh'ing and aah'ing around every corner. There were two weddings happening the Saturday we were there. We spied one bride and wedding party on a golf cart. Later we saw fireworks in their honor - rumor had it around the pool the next day they pedaled away by bicycle while the fireworks went off. What a send off!While at the Cloister you really don't feel totally in the "in crowd" without wearing Lily Pulitzer and searsucker stripes. I resisted the Lily fad, but did love dressing Connor up. How could I resist with such an incredible backdrop?

Cows come from Milk and Other Connorisms

It has been an interesting week already. Yesterday was a "Teacher Workday" at Preschool (yes, I know how lame it is for the preschool - ahem, daycare for working parents - to have a workday on a Monday, but whatever). We love her school so whatever keeps them rolling.

A sitter came the first half of the day. Connor loved Ms. Kym and Kirk's back-up daycare benefit proved invaluable. I worked a half day and spent the rest with our Peanut. Maybe that was really the crux of the school's purpose? To be sure we spent quality one-on-one time together? During our afternoon I was amazed at how engaged Connor has become in 'pretend play' and in using her imagination. Certainly I see it come out sporadically on the weekends when we are here and there and everywhere. But the low key time at home really helped bring it out. Perhaps I was that much more vigilant to it as I just started reading this book about "the creative family" and encouraging imagination.

Here are some examples of our "creative family" in action:
These show Connor's "goldfish" she spontaneously made and identified from her beads!
We are big into "being ghosts" under the covers at bedtime. It makes Connor laugh hysterically and it wouldn't be right without a hiding ghost saying goodnight.
I guess this snuggle time is one of the advantages of sleeping on a queen mattress on the floor. Ample room for kisses and cuddles and sheet-ghost fun!

One morning before school Kirk and Connor had a tea party. Looks like a yummy spread. See how proud Connor is of her handiwork?

A favorite activity is to go to our bathroom and grab as many sticky lint rollers as she can find. She calls them her "lollipops!"

This weekend a haircut was in order. Connor was very excited to get into her "car" at the shop and no telling what was going through her little imagination as the hairdresser clipped away.

Connor's teachers instructed us to bring in a shoebox. This is a tough task for the family whose belongings are still in storage with no shoebox in sight. I thought it a good excuse to buy new shoes, but our neighbor jumped in with a box in the nick of time.

The art Connor brought home from the shoebox was quite abstract. Yet there was a logical story for every little piece. What was it, you ask? But of course a castle with a prince and princess. Connor pointed out each piece to us. The "prince" is the larger, red piece on the bottom left.

And yesterday Connor's imagination led to playing "airplane" on the white couch with me...zipped up tight in her coat and her purple plastic high heels. I am not really sure where the chill came from on the makeshift plane. But it was awfully cute. Lazing around in PJs is certainly a novelty for us.

Here are some other products of Connor's imagination:

- She told me recently, "Mom do you know cows come from milk?" I didn't have the heart to correct her.

- "God made me like that" - she is big into saying this about every thing she notices about herself.

- She is in a new classroom and I asked about her naptime routine. She told me her new mat in her class has "LEGS, but not real legs! Not legs like these" she reports, tapping her legs.

- In her new class they are doing a unit on community helpers. She has learned to "call 911 in an emergency" and also all about, "stop, drop, and roll" My absolute favorite time of day is hearing about what she learned that day.

- We made our first Costco trip this weekend since moving back to the States. Only in America would such a place exist. I bought a super size pack of fresh mangos. Connor devoured them eating them by the fistful. Ask her what she ate though and she proudly and matter-of-factly answers "Flamingos" (instead of mangos). It is priceless.

Childlike imagination is contagious!